Land Rover LRX gets five doors

Autocar can exclusively reveal that Land Rover will launch a more practical five-door version of its sleek compact LRX in 2011.The LRX – which has only been previewed as a three-door concept - will be Land Rover’s most significant product launch since Tata Motors took the company over. Autocar understands that the three-door LRX will follow the concept car’s shape and design as closely as possible. But Land Rover is also working on a five-door model and the company’s design team is striving to retain the lines and style of the compact concept car, while adding the extra practicality of two rear doors. It’s not yet clear whether the three- and five-door versions of the LRX will be launched simultaneously in 2011. It’s more likely that the five-door variant will arrive six months after the three-door, allowing Land Rover to take the fight to fashionable urban cars like the Mini Clubman. Sources suggest that a hybrid version of the LRX is a vital part of Land Rover’s plan, and that this will boast excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. Land Rover hopes to build 70,000 LRXs per year at its Halewood plant in the UK.